2018 Jeep Cherokee engine problems
159 of the 686 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 38 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 159 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 33 · 2020: 37 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 3
Half of the 85 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 18,000 and 46,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
686 complaints in all about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Cherokee engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
In november car completely shut off, having no steering and hard breaking. Took car in for this along with an oil change dealership stated this was a software update. They performed the update but failed to tell me anything else.
While company employee was driving the vehicle, without warning, the engine shuts down. It has happened numerous times, at highway speeds, and also in town in traffic without warning. The Jeep dealer said it needed an oil change, but the oil life monitor says there is still 56% oil life remaining.
Regarding recall 18v-524 for the powertrain control module, fca reports that the repair parts are not available and there is no eta
While in motion with cruise control set at 65 MPH the transmission jerked twice and the engine revved up and as if it was in neutral, stayed that way as if the accelerator was stuck. I hit my brakes because we was losing speed and when stopped I tried to put in park but it sounded as if gears was gri.
On two different occasions the engine shut off unexpectedly and without warning while driving. Once on a hill, the next time on a highway. There were no indicator lights or other warning systems in place. When it happened the steering failed as did all braking systems. The car was brought back to the dealership.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V670000 HighOct 24, 2017 · 357 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
38 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 03-002-26 Service bulletinJul 9, 2026
- Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Jeep Cherokee names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 295 complaints
- electrical problems 191 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 159 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 38 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V670000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 28,670 miles; half of them between 18,000 and 46,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.